Managing an orphanage in another world

-A few hours after Leaf startled the fairy before dawn-

On a small fluffy blanket lay the fairy. The fairy looked like a small little girl. A bit chubby. She had pink hair. Her hair were short and flowing. She wore a white colored dress that reached her knees. She had fainted after being startled by Leaf and was sleeping peacefully now.

Leaf, being a kind little girl, could not leave the fainted fairy to sleep alone in the garden. She though, 'What if she gets attacked by a mouse?'. So Leaf picked up the fairy and brought her into her own room.

She wrapped the fairy in her handkerchief so the small fairy doesn't get cold. And laid her on her blanket since the blanket she received from Thea Unnie was very soft to the touch.

Now, after a few hours the fairy opened her eyes slowly. She stretched her arms and legs. As if she had just awoken from a wonderful sleep. But what she was met with were the big eyes of Leaf in her field of view.

"AH!"

Thankfully, this time the fairy did not faint.

"Wait, wait!"

The fairy quickly hid in the handkerchief. And Leaf tried to stop her from hiding and talk with her. Since there was nowhere else to go, the fairy slowly peeked her head out of the handkerchief.

"You..."

Her voice was a sharp one, and not that loud.

"YOU MONSTER!"

A harsh accusation. It was a painful stab at the child heart of Leaf.

"I'm not a monster!"

"Only a monster can sneak up on me and scare me."

The little fairy claimed.

"That doesn't mean I'm a monster."

"No, only monsters do that."

"But spies do that all the time. And they're not monsters."

"..."

The fairy didn't have any response.

"See? So I'm not a monster. Say I'm not a monster."

At the end of her command, she sounded a bit angry. It was because Leaf really didn't like being called a monster, since her abusive father would call her a monster in the past.

"What's a spy?"

But instead of receiving a confirmation, she was asked a question.

"You don't know what spies are?"

"I don't."

"Well...spies are people that walk around without people knowing they are there."

"What?! Why would they do that?"

As if she had heard the most insanely illogical thing, the fairy questioned.

"There can be many reasons. Like, the spy maybe needs to do it because they're following some evil person and can't tell them."

"A-are you a spy?"

The fairy carefully asked. Listening to Leaf, She got some weird perception of spies in her mind now.

"I'm not a spy."

"Phew~"

The fairy felt relieved that Leaf was not a spy.

"What were you doing in the garden?"

Leaf was curious.

"The garden? You mean the place with the nice plants?"

"Yes, that place. Why were you there?"

"Well, those plants were asking for my help."

"Asking for your help?"

"Exactly, I don't know who left them there but they were struggling to survive."

"Wow. Really?"

Leaf didn't think that Su was bad at horticulture. Maybe there was there some other reason.

"Urgh, and recently that elf has been bothering me."

"So that's what Su has been doing! She was looking for you."

Leaf was also wondering why Su had been acting weird these days.

"I don't like her!"

The fairy declared.

"Oh? But Su's really nice. She wouldn't hurt you."

"No! I don't...want to meet her."

The fairy said while looking away from Leaf.

"Oh, I see."

"W-what?"

The fairy looked flustered.

"You're shy."

"No I'm not!"

"Don't lie. It's bad to lie."

"I said I'm not shy!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Ok, then that means you'll talk to Su?"

"Ah!"

The fairy was stunned. If she backed out now, it would mean she was shy to meet Su. But if she didn't, that would mean she has to meet Su. And she was in fact very shy to meet anyone. It was a dilemma that the fairy could not handle.

Tears formed around her big eyes. She didn't like being in this dilemma.

"Wait, I'm sorry! Please don't cry."

It made Leaf flustered also. She didn't mean to make the little fairy cry.

"You don't need to talk to anyone."

"...ok."

The fairy wiped away the tears.

"I hate talking to other people."

"I see. You don't need to talk to anyone if you don't want to."

The fairy nodded her head.

"Umm, does that you don't wanna talk to me?"

"...you're fine..."

The little fairy's cheeks turned a bit pink and her gaze averted away from Leaf.

"Really? Does that mean we can be friends?"

"No! I don't want a friend!"

The fairy was against it. Leaf felt a little let down.

"I see...can I know your name at least? I'm Leaf by the way."

"I don't have a name."

"What? You really don't?"

"What's so weird about it? I've never had to use it before."

"But everyone gets a name. Didn't your parents give you one?"

"What are parents?"

"Parents....you know, they're people that give you a name and raise you..."

Leaf didn't know much about why parents were parents. She also didn't know that fairies do not have parents. Fairies are born from nature. They just exist one day and that's it.

"Why do you need someone to raise you?"

Fairies are born with some intelligence so they take care of themselves right from the start.

"Umm...because human babies are weak?"

"How weak?"

"Very weak. They can't even move."

"Wow, that is weak!"

The fairy was surprised to learn how weak babies are.

"If you want...I can give you a name."

Leaf gave a suggestion to the fairy.

"Fine, hurry up and give it to me."

"Uhmm..."

Leaf thought for a few moments.

"Temtem!"

She enthusiastically announced.

"Tem...tem..."

The little fairy really liked the sound of it. Her tone was filled with love for the name. And her face showed a satisfied expression.

"Temtem."

She pronounced her name once again. Feeling happy.

"Ah."

Temtem cleared her throat and stopped her smile. Going back to a stoic face.

"Ahem. Thank you for the name, it is acceptable."

Temtem stood up.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm leaving."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. I have work to do."

Behind Temtem, a pair of translucent wings appeared. She flew up.

"Bye bye, I hope we meet again."

Leaf waved to Temtem as she flew out through the window.

And then began Leaf's morning routine.

First, Leaf tidied up her bed. She then left her room to go outside to the garden again.

There, she would find a half asleep Thea. In the morning, Thea would make a cup of special tea that only she is allowed to drink. She then takes the tea outside in front of the garden to drink.

There was a porch at the back where Thea would sit. She would watch the sky as the clouds went by and sip from her tea. Since Janna came, she would also watch Janna train.

Sometimes Leaf would come out and see her sitting there. That's when she discovered that Thea would fall asleep while drinking the tea. Usually not even finishing her tea.

So Leaf sometimes looks at Thea and then sits besides her. She takes out a paper and draws on it. Thea said it's good to draw as it helps you meditate. And it was enjoyable for Leaf to do it besides Thea. To her, it felt peaceful.

Today, Leaf wanted to do something else.

She shook Thea to make sure she wasn't waking up. Thea was an incredibly heavy sleeper.

Leaf took her hands to Thea's hair. She wanted to make braids for Thea's hair. Thea normally has long straight hair. She doesn't style them or anything. She just lets them be.

Leaf was curious and playful today. She had no experience with making braids but she had seen some of the other ladies have nice braided hair. So she wanted to give it a try.

Leaf went to work. Her little hands did not do a good job. The braids were uneven and all over the place. She was only halfway done before she felt she was ruining her Unnie's hair.

"What are you doing?"

It wasn't Thea that spoke after waking up or anything. It was Janna who had been practicing her sword that walked up to Leaf.

"Uhh...I thought it would look good on Unnie..."

Leaf saw as Janna came close to her.

"Haha, it might've looked good if you did it correctly."

"...I know."

"Don't feel down. I'll teach you how to braid hair later, how about that?"

"Oh, I would love that."

"I used to help my mom with braiding her hair. So I'll teach you."

"Have you ever braided Unnie's hair?"

"Oh, she hates braids."

"Really?"

"Why do you think she has only straight hair?"

"Because she's lazy?"

"Well, you're not wrong there. But the real reason is that she loves straight long hair."

"I wish my hair were like hers."

Leaf had hair reaching down to her back. They were long curly hair.

"You have the same hair Thea used to have."

"Unnie hair like mine?"

"Yes, but they were way longer. I think when she turned 17, her hair changed to they are now."

"So my hair could also change?"

"No, don't think like that. Your hair are beautiful as they are. There's no reason to look like someone else. Just be yourself."

"But..."

Leaf was a kid. It is normal for kids to want to imitate adults. That's how every kid learns learns. Leaf admired Thea the most because she was saved by Thea when she was at her lowest. There was no one else in the world she wanted to be more like than Thea.

Janna patted Leaf's head.

"Thea wouldn't want you to do that either."

Leaf was quiet. What Janna had told her was true.

"Okay, that's that. Why don't you help me with breakfast?"

"But I don't know how to cook."

"It's okay, you can learn with me."

Janna took Leaf to make pancakes for breakfast.

A dozen or so minutes later.

*Yawn.*

Thea woke up with a big yawn. She stretched her body.

"That was a good nap!"

She felt satisfied with her nap.

"Hmm?"

She felt something was wrong with her head.

'Why is my balance off?'

Thea touched her hair.

"What happened to my hair?!"

Thea thought for a moment.

'Only Janna was out here!'

She put the blame of her hair being messed with on Janna.

"Oh, Thea. You're awake. Come have breakfast. Leaf and I made pancakes."

"You!"

Thea was staring at Janna with viper like eyes.

"I'll have my revenge one day. Mark my words."

"Revenge? For what?"

"Tsk. There's no use trying to cover it."

Thea stood up and headed inside. Leaving Janna confused all by herself. But not before Janna saw the mess on Thea's head.

Janna would sometimes tease Thea with the words 'No braids today?' starting from that day.

Thea sat down at the table after washing her hands.

"Here."

Leaf came up and gave her pancakes.

"Janna said you made pancakes with her?"

"I only helped a little."

Thea looked down at the pancakes. They weren't as round as pancakes were supposed to be.

"It looks amazing!"

But since Leaf had made them, there was no way Thea could say they were not pancake like.

"You can say what's on your mind, Unnie."

Leaf could tell that the pancakes didn't look the best. She could tell from a look that Thea was hiding her real thoughts. They had lived together for a month now.

"Say what's on my mind? Then I'll say it."

"Yes, I'm ready."

Leaf was bracing herself to hear some bad things about her cooking.

"These pancakes are amazing since our cute Leaf made them. I know that these were made with the most amount of care and love put into them."

Leaf was surprised.

"Did you think I wouldn't like them?"

"Yes..."

Thea patted Leaf's head.

"I like everything you make."

Hearing this, tears formed in Leaf's eyes.

"There, there."

"Do...do you also like the braids I made?"

Leaf, while sobbing, asked a question.

The question stunned Thea.

"Go on, Thea. Answer it."

While Janna had a smirk on her face.

"I..."

"Yes?"

"I like it..."

"So you'll let me style your hair when I want?"

"..."

Thea really didn't want to do that.

"What's wrong Thea? You don't want to let down Leaf, now would you?"

Janna, being a true friend, decided to betray Thea and watch her suffer.

"...ok..."

Thea said in a small voice.

"What was that?"

"Ok, fine."

"Hahaha."

Janna was having fun imagining the torture Thea would go through. But secretly, she also wanted to see Thea look nice with many styles of hair.

"Maybe I'll order some dresses from my..."

Janna was about to make a joke about ordering some of the fancy royal dresses for Thea to wear. But then she saw the angry face of Thea and didn't continue the joke.

"Let's enjoy the pancakes."

Thea said passive aggressively. Even though the shape of some of the pancakes was not good, their taste was still amazing since Janna made the pancake sauce.

Nem and Gwyn walked out from their room when they finished eating.

"Good morning."

Thea and Janna said to the two of them.

"Why are you two so late to wake up every time?"

Only Leaf was upset with them.

"Woof."

Gwyn responded. He had an attitude of 'whatever'. While Nem didn't respond. He was being carried by Gwyn on his back, still half asleep.

"Let them be."

Thea asked Leaf to calm down.

"But Unnie! They always miss breakfast."

"Well, what can we do."

Janna said while shaking her head.

"I'll make breakfast."

Janna went and made breakfast.

"Oh, Leaf. How about a punishment?"

Thea suddenly suggested.

"What? Did I do something wrong?"

Leaf was shocked.

"No, not for you. You didn't do anything wrong. I meant for the two of them."

Thea pointed at Nem and Gwyn.

"Why don't you practice styling hair on them?"

"OOH!"

Leaf's eyes lit up. Gwyn was just a big ball of fur. He would be perfect to practice making braids and other styles.

"If they're late to breakfast, you get to make their hair for the whole day."

"I'll do it. Hehehe."

Nem and Gwyn were subject to Leaf's hands that day.

After they had breakfast, Janna had something to tell them.

"I'm going for a job interview today."

"I thought your job was to be our chef, Janna Unnie."

"It's only a part-time job. I'm not always cooking for you guys, and Thea takes care of everything else so I wanted to do something in my free time."

"What job are you trying for?"

Thea asked her.

"The local patrol. I heard they needed more people. So I'm just helping out for now until they get more people."

"Ah, so you're going to work for Silas."

"Silas?"

"You didn't know?"

"No, I was just going to meet Su and she was going to introduce me."

It was Su that originally suggested Janna to join the local patrol.

"Well, if you want I can talk to him."

"Nah, there's no need. Do you think I'll fail?"

"With your resume?"

"Exactly."

"I was just saying-oh right, if you're there in the patrol team, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Keep an eye on the current patrol leader. Something felt off about him."

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Okay, now that that's over. It's time for training."

In the afternoon, after they were done with the daily training of body and mana.

Before Janna left for the interview. Silas came to visit.

"Miss Thea!"

"Silas, what's the occasion?"

"I've got some urgent news for you."

"Do tell."

"You remember you told me to keep an eye out for kids that needed special guidance?"

"Yeah, did you find someone like that?"

"I don't know if this is it but this kid could be trouble."

"What's so troubling about this kid?"

"The kid carries demon blood."

"A part demon kid? Is that even possible?"

"It's a rare thing, but it does happen sometimes. Usually the mother is attacked by demons while pregnant and traces of the blood get into the body of the mother."

"So while the child is growing in the womb, they become part demon?"

"Yes, but normally either they die in the womb or shortly after being born."

"Then how about this particular child?"

"He's already eight years old. And his birthday is in a few weeks."

"I see. I assume there are many troubles with him?"

"Yes, he has an....anger issue."

Silas didn't know how to put it into words.

"Has he harmed someone?"

"Thankfully, no one has died. But it's only a matter of time. Every time he goes berserk, he gets more powerful. The people from his village are having trouble handling him."

"I see. I'll have to go myself."

"Thank you. Please take care of the kid."

Silas left after giving the information to Thea. Thea was lost in her thinking when she noticed something. Janna was standing to her side.

"Who was that?"

Her cheeks were pink.